DMRgn83TX

Even though The Disney Cruise Line says you only need to have a copy (your original is better) of your birth certificate and driver's license to cross the Canadian border... you should have a passport when getting through US customs prior to boarding the ship. I didn't have a passport, but I did get through customs. I think it was because I was with my sister who had a passport. It does mention, on the Disney Cruise website, that "If you're visiting any country other than the U.S., remember to contact the consulate of that country to ensure you have the documentation required to visit. Travelers can visit the U.S. State Department's website. Guests without proper documentation will be denied boarding." Well, I wasn't denied but questioned.I think everyone should get a passport which takes a long time to obtain one (sure you can get an expedited one, but it costs more money) because you never know when you'll need one.

Here's the scoop - if you make it into Canada without a passport in the first place, I don't think you will even be permitted to board the ship, and that is because in Vancouver we have U.S. pre-clearance. This means at the pier, you will go through U.S. Customs and Immigration and once you pass through, you are considered to be in U.S. waters while you are still physically in Vancouver, Canada. The ship then sails for Alaska and when passengers get off at the first Alaskan port, they do not have to clear customs there. It's actually a brilliant system, but for someone without a passport, this could be a problem.

 

I suggest you pay for the same-day passport IMMEDIATELY as 6rugrats suggested in the post above mine. This is your ONLY option. This is all too much worry. Please let us know what you decide to do!! An Alaskan cruise is incredible, and we would all hate for you to miss it.

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I wish I had seen this. (I forgot to check the date you posted this). I WAS able to pass the US pre-clearance - even though I didn't have a passport, but was urged to get one. The US customs rep asked me why I didn't have a passport.. and I told him (which was the truth) that I only knew that I was going two weeks before. He went ahead and processed it and let me on but I believe it was because I was with one of my sisters who had a passport, even though it was expired. Then he said: "Get a passport". I didn't have any trouble getting through Canada, nor did I have any trouble getting back into the US after our cruise was over. But Disney had it on their website (Disneycruise.com) that we only needed a copy of our birth certificate and a "government-issued photo ID" (A Driver's license). Then they had a disclaimer that I didn't see (nor did my niece who is a Disney travel consultant) in that same webpage that said: "If you're visiting any country other than the U.S., remember to contact the consulate of that country to ensure you have the documentation required to visit. Travelers can visit the U.S. State Department's website. Guests without proper documentation will be denied boarding." Well I didn't see it nor did my niece. Well, I know for sure, now. But Disney should have at least mentioned that there would be a "US pre-clearance" checking right before boarding.:o

Just got this via Email.

Foreign nationals seeking entry into Canada must meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The requirement of subsection 16(1) of the IRPA states that a person who makes an application to enter Canada must answer truthfully all questions put before them for the purpose of the examination and must produce all relevant evidence and documents that the officer reasonably requires. The individual seeking entry must be able to satisfy the border services officer (BSO) of their identity and nationality. This may be facilitated by providing the BSO with a valid passport or other original document that clearly denotes identity and nationality.

The following documents may be satisfactory evidence of United States (U.S.) citizenship:

· A valid U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, or a Certificate of Citizenship and Naturalization are considered primary evidence and are acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship.

· The Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) and Enhanced Identification Card (EIC) (non-drivers) are alternative travel documents denoting the holder's identity and citizenship and are acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship when entering from the U.S. through land and marine ports of entry only.

· An original U.S. birth certificate, when accompanied by a valid government issued photo identification document, is considered an indicator and may be an acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship.

Land and sea entrance into Canada by a U.S. citizen seventeen (17) years of age and under can be completed with an original birth certificate alone. Photo identification is not required until the age of eighteen (18).

Please note that international transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a valid passport. Travellers who present other documents may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance. Please contact the airline to confirm the required boarding documentation.

You should also be aware that foreign nationals may be found inadmissible to Canada on the grounds of criminality, security, human or international rights violations, health, financial reasons, misrepresentation, and non-compliance with the IRPA.

Information on visiting Canada is accessible at:

http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ivc-rnc-eng.html

Children seventeen years of age and under may require additional documentation when travelling without the presence of all parents or guardians. More information and a sample consent letter can be found at:

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/children-travel

Should be OK based on this. I did not know I was going until last week or I would have gotten my Passport.

My sisters have PAID for me to go with them on a cruise to Alaska. We leave for the cruise in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday, May 23rd.

I was all excited to go, until someone said that you have to have a passport to get into Canada to board the ship in Vancouver. Well, I found out that I DON'T need a passport because we are traveling to Vancouver from Seattle, WA by land (bus). Okay, then that same person said that I may have trouble returning to the U.S. after we disembark from the ship. So I joined this forum to hopefully get some answers.:confused:

Yeah, I know that It's REALLY close to leaving for Vancouver, but had that person not question what the travel agent told us, I would not be shaken up.

Of course, I'll ask this question in the appropriate forum of this website.